Vic Falls to Kruger

This short but exciting trip combines three of southern Africa's most phenomenal sites: Hwange and Kruger national parks and the breathtaking Victoria Falls. Look out for the Big Five plus a host of other astounding wild animals. Spend time in a traditional village in Botswana and visit South Africa's modern capital - all the while uncovering Africa's incredible and diverse natural beauty on this awesome week-long adventure through the south of Africa.

Why we love this trip

Pay the famous elephants and lions of Hwange National Park a visit from an open-air 4X4 vehicle

Track rhinos on foot with an expert local guide in Matabos National Park – an exhilarating way to experience the wildlife of Zimbabwe

Immerse yourself in the ancient culture of the Hananwa people at a small village in South Africa's Limpopo province. Listen to stories of this fascinating community as your hosts prepare you a traditional feast

Take in out-of-this-world views of Blyde River Canyon. This spectacular gorge is up there with the world's largest, and is the greenest of the lot

Is this trip right for you?

Staying with the Hananwa people (Day 6) is a fantastic opportunity to experience the age-old culture of an African tribe – great for those with an open mind.

The African wild comes alive at sunrise, so there will be some early starts. The thrill of spotting your first lion or rhino will be well worth any loss of sleep!

Our purpose-built overland vehicles allow for excellent game viewing, equipped with large sliding windows. They have no air-conditioning, however, so they can get dusty and hot at times.

The going can be slow over the long distances and often bumpy roads. A little bit of patience will go a long way towards your enjoyment of this beautiful land!

This is a participatory camping trip, so team spirit is key. You'll be expected to help out with camp setup, food preparation and cleaning.

Mhoro! Welcome to Zimbabwe. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm. You can arrive at any time as there are no activities planned until this important meeting. Please ask the hotel reception where it will take place. If you can't arrange a flight that will arrive in time for this, consider arriving a day early so you are able to attend. If you are going to be late, please inform the hotel reception. We'll be collecting your insurance details and next of kin information at this meeting. If you arrive early, check out some of the optional activities around Vic Falls. The Zimbabwe side of the falls offers the broadest view of this colossal natural wonder. Scenic helicopter flights are incredible – if you opt for one, choose Zambezi Helicopter Company (CAA Zimbabwe), the only operator Intrepid endorses.

Accommodation

Camping (with shared facilities) (1 night)

Optional Activities

Victoria Falls - Canoe trail (full day) - USD185

Victoria Falls - Flying fox - USD50

Victoria Falls - Gorge swing - USD110

Victoria Falls - Victoria Falls entrance - USD35

Victoria Falls - Helicopter flight (25 mins) - USD334

Victoria Falls - Helicopter flight (12 mins) - USD175

Victoria Falls - Village & township tour - USD50

Victoria Falls - Whitewater rafting (full day) - USD140

Victoria Falls - Whitewater rafting (half day) - USD140

Meals Included

There are no meals included on this day.

Special Information

You may notice businesses offering an optional 'Walk with the Lions' experience. We ask all Intrepid travellers to avoid this activity as it is contrary to our Responsible Travel policy. While wildlife viewing is a big part of many of our itineraries, we strive to only view animals in their natural habitats and to do so with the greatest level of respect. The lion walking industry directly contributes to the captive breeding and canned hunting of lions.

Read more about animal welfare and our ‘Born to Live Wild’ pledge here:
http://www.intrepidtravel.com/animal-welfare

Leave Vic Falls behind and head to Hwange National Park (approximately 6 hours, depending on traffic). You will explore this stunning wildlife arena in an open 4X4 vehicle. Hwange National Park became the royal hunting grounds of the Ndebele warrior-king Mzilikazi in the early 19th century and was set aside as a national park in 1929. Today Hwange boasts a tremendous selection of wildlife with over 100 species of mammals and nearly 400 bird species. The elephants of Hwange are world famous – here you'll find one of the largest elephant populations in Africa. At tonight's camp there is WiFi as well as optional accommodation upgrades (subject to availability).

Accommodation

Camping (with facilities) (1 night)

Included Activities

Hwange National Park - Game drive

Meals Included

Make tracks for Matobos this morning (approximately 7–8 hours). Take a short detour through the town of Bulawayo, glimpsing its beautiful colonial buildings, before heading to your camp for the next two nights. Home to a large population of black and white rhinoceros that can be tracked on foot, Matobo National Park is also the site of the grave of Cecil John Rhodes, the founder of Rhodesia and the De Beers diamond company. The Matopos area has great spiritual and cultural significance to the local people and there are many sites within the park where important ceremonies still take place. Your campground tonight has shared facilities, WiFi access and optional upgrades.

Accommodation

Camping (with facilities) (1 night)

Meals Included

Depart Bulawayo for Matobo Hills. This morning have a unique experience tracking rhinos on foot with the help of your guides. Here there will be the chance to spot other game (the park is home to klipspringers, leopards, warthogs and springhares among many others). You can also learn about the various local plant and trees, wild pear and paperbark among them, while discovering bushman paintings and intriguing rock formations. After a cold lunch venture to nearby African villages and meet some of the local community.

Accommodation

Camping (with facilities) (1 night)

Included Activities

Matobo National Park - Guided walking safari

Meals Included

Get up early this morning and hit the road for Moremi Gorge (approximately 6-7 hours, depending on the border crossing). We will need to cross back into Botswana today due to the unreliability of the border crossing direct to South Africa. After arriving at the campsite and settling in, perhaps take a short hike in the beautiful surrounds and visit the gorge. The camp tonight is basic with limited hot water in winter.

Accommodation

Camping (with facilities) (1 night)

Meals Included

Breakfast

Dinner

Special Information

We cross into Botswana today as the border crossing is more reliable than going directly to South Africa.

Depart early for Blouberg in South Africa's Limpopo province (approximately 6–7 hours). You should arrive in the late afternoon. Here at the base of a mountain, where there are no roads, you'll find the Hanawa people, a small village community, many of whom still lead an age-old way of life. Take a walk with your local guide, following paths along the base of the Blouberg Mountains and listening to stories of the tribe. You'll visit a Lutheran missionary village (Bochum) and then some local village taverns (shebeens) where locals will provide an evening meal – perhaps mazie and watermelon (Thopi), chicken-based stews (Malana) or a green vegetable called marogo. You can also sample their traditionally brewed beer. Note that vegetarians will have limited options – speak to your leader to arrange an alternative. There are optional upgrades at camp tonight.

Accommodation

Camping (with basic facilities) (1 night)

Included Activities

Blouberg- Cultural Dinner

Meals Included

Journey to Kruger National Park (approximately 8–9 hours). There will be an opportunity to stop at a shop or market for any supplies you might need. One of the largest game reserves in Southern Africa, Kruger National Park is home to over 500 bird species, 100 species of reptile and 150 mammal species, including the Big Five and the endangered African wild dog. Your wildlife experience begins as soon as you enter the park. You will head straight into prime game viewing areas, glimpsing anything from antelopes and eland to cheetahs and rhinos. Your campground, situated within the park itself, has shared facilities, hot and cold water, and optional upgrades.

Accommodation

Camping (with facilities) (1 night)

Optional Activities

Kruger National Park - Evening game drive - ZAR240

Meals Included

Breakfast

Dinner

Special Information

On occasion, especially during the peak months of May, June, July & December we are unable to secure campsites within the Kruger National Park. In this instance we will camp at a backpackers outside the park.

Rise early and have a light breakfast of coffee and rusks before embarking on a full-day game drive in the truck. Most of the day will be spent game viewing, bird watching and stopping at various waterholes and viewpoints. Depending on the season, you might catch sight of a saddle-billed stork with its distinct red beak, or the blue waxbill which is commonly found foraging for seeds in the scrub. In the afternoon when it's warm, take some time out to relax. Later on there is an optional night drive with the park guide to spot nocturnal animals and perhaps even a night-time predator or two.

Accommodation

Camping (with facilities) (1 night)

Included Activities

Kruger National Park - Game drive

Optional Activities

Kruger National Park - Evening game drive - ZAR240

Meals Included

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Special Information

On occasion, especially during the peak months of May, June and July we are unable to secure campsites within the Kruger National Park. In this instance we will camp in a bordering private game park.

It's time to head back to Johannesburg (approximately 9–10 hours). There's plenty of time to stop and explore along the way. You will take in amazing vistas at the viewpoint over Blyde River Canyon and view the Three Rondavels. This trip finishes on arrival in Johannesburg at the finishing point hotel. No accommodation is provided for tonight, but this can be arranged when you book this trip. If you're catching an outgoing international flight, it's important to book it for 10 pm or later, to allow for delays.

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Important notes

1. A single supplement is available on this trip. Please speak to your booking agent for more information.
2. This trip finishes upon arrival in Johannesburg on Day 9. Please do not book any flights until after 10pm this evening.

Essential trip information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.